Rockford School Leaders Plan To Modernize The District

70-percent of District 205's buildings are more than 50 years old and need maintenance done that's been deferred for decades.

At Tuesday night's board meeting district leaders presented updated cost analysts to board members that shows it would cost close to 200-million dollars to just take care of deferred maintenance.  That money would go to take care of basic needs like fixing windows, flooring, and electrical systems and other needs that can be considered safety issues for students.

The district also wants to add on to some buildings, remodel others, and possibly build new buildings that would replace some of the district's outdated facilities.  

One proposal could even close or consolidate White Swan and Cherry Valley, which could include building a new school for those students.

To fund these projects the school board will be asking voters to pass a referendum in November.  Board members have to decide what maintenance needs they want to take care of by their August 14^th board meeting, and from that a referendum resolution needs to be drafted by August 20^th for it to be on the November ballot.

"A lot of their work that we're talking about, deferred maintenance, life safety work, its the electrical system, things like that that need to be addressed," said District 205 chief operations officer Todd Schmidt.